She spent the night at Stock, and before sunrise the next day proceeded towards the Bucklebury Ferry.
"Oh yes, I remember him," the ferryhobbit said. "Polite lad, crossed over just a few days ago." He gave her a curious look. "Friend of yours?"
"Cousin," she said. And now she was faced with a bit of a problem. She hadn't really packed for more than a quick trip home to Brockenborings. "How much to cross, please?"
Buckland was quite a sight, she had to admit, with all the windows of Brandy Hall gleaming in the morning sun. Still, it's hard to appreciate anything on an empty stomach.
Wandering up the lane she came to a cluster of tents. There was a smell of something baking. And while she dearly would have loved to buy one of the fresh glazed honey buns , she hadn't much money and a honey bun wouldn't last long.
In the end she left with some rather hard biscuits, and a bit of good news: the merchant had sold some very similar biscuits several days ago, to a young hobbit lad.
"A real charmer," the baker told her. "Said he was looking to 'see the sights,' and I told him the Brandy Hills are right pretty this time of year."
Rosa walked a long ways before she finally began her ascent into the foothills--and it was not long before she spied a campfire. Quietly, she crept up, hoping it might be Freddy but wary it mightn't be.
"Have no fear, little mistress," the man said, much to her surprise. "I spied you coming up the hill."
Still feeling a bit cautious--she had never really spoken to one of the Big Folk--she approached the fire.
The man, while an odd fellow and no mistake, soon set her at ease. He had seen Gladfred, though they had not spoken.
"He passed by here and into the hills, heading east and a little north," the man said. "I believe he was heading towards the ruins in the hills."
Rosa let out a long, low whistle. The man had been kind enough to point her towards the ruins, though he had cautioned her that the hills were overrun with bears. So she walked softly, and eventually came to the old ruins--just the sort of place Freddy would want to see, she was sure.
The view was breathtaking.
On the eastern side, she spied a river that presumably emptied into the Brandywine--or was it the Brandywine? She couldn't be sure; geography and maps never having been her strong point. But she was certain the fishing was good there.
Now...if she just packed her biscuits in her hat...and pushed her pack along in front of her...
A drenched, exhausted, and thoroughly unhappy Rosafina crested yet another hill--she was quite sick of them--only to spot yet another dratted lake. At least this one had a bridge.
In time she came to a farm, with more Big People than she'd ever seen. They were surprised to see her, but polite, and pointed her towards the road.
"You'll come to Bree if you head South along the Greenway."
"Could I make it by nightfall?"
Finally!
Still, damp, bone tired now, and VERY hungry, Rosa approached the Bree-Town north gate. She was certain Freddy would have come here; the attraction of such a large city would have appealed to him. For now, she was mainly interested in a room, a meal, and a bath--and a hot fire, preferably with lots and lots of towels.
